The Hammer Films/UFA joint production stars Jack Palance, Jeff Chandler and Martine Carol.

Set in the aftermath of World War II, the film focuses on a half-dozen Germans who return to a devastated Berlin and find employment as a bomb disposal squad, tasked with clearing the city of unexploded Allied bombs.

They form a tontine, into which they pool half of their salaries which those still alive at the end of three months will divide.

Robert Aldrich's direction is noted for its meticulous attention to the techniques of bomb deactivation and disposal.

[3] In post-war Berlin, British Major Haven recruits members of what's left of a returning German bomb disposal unit—Hans Globke, Peter Tillig, Wolfgang Sulke, Franz Loeffler, Karl Wirtz and Eric Koertner—to defuse unexploded Allied bombs throughout the city.

Later, Karl and Eric move into a boarding house run by pretty young widow Margot Hoefler, a Frenchwoman whose German husband died during the war.

When Eric criticizes her behavior, Margot explains that she is considered a traitor by the French and an outsider to the Germans.

While the doctor treats Tillig, Eric goes outside to guide the men and equipment; Karl leaves too.

The next day, Eric takes Margot to another ruined section of the city to show her something, but changes his mind.

The next day Loeffler drowns trying to defuse a bomb found in a canal when his air line is cut and nobody notices.

After removing the top of the bomb, Karl calls for help, saying the secondary firing pin has slipped and is only being kept from activating by his finger.

"[10] Ten Seconds to Hell was released to Blu-ray DVD by Kino Lorber (under license from MGM) on February 24, 2015 as a Region 1 disc.